Construction begins on modern ambulance station in Coffs Harbour
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Wednesday 29 April 2020

Construction has started on the new Sawtell Ambulance Station, being delivered as part of the Government’s $122 million Rural Ambulance Infrastructure Reconfiguration (RAIR) program.

This is a significant milestone in the NSW Government’s commitment to build a new ambulance station within the Coffs Harbour electorate.

The NSW Government is investing in purpose-built and modern NSW Ambulance stations to support the clinical capability of our highly trained paramedics.

To be located on Sawtell Road, the new station will support the existing station at Coffs Harbour and enable local NSW Ambulance paramedics to better meet the current and future demand for emergency medical care in the Coffs Harbour/Sawtell district.

Designed with input from local paramedics, the purpose-built Sawtell NSW Ambulance station will deliver a better working environment for paramedics tailored to the needs of the local community.

Once completed, the Sawtell NSW Ambulance station will include:
 
  • Internal parking for up to six emergency ambulance vehicles
  • Administration and office areas
  • Staff amenities
  • Multipurpose meeting training room
  • Logistics and storage areas
  • Relief accommodation
  • Deliveries and loading bay
  • External wash bay
  • Staff parking
  • Sector office – that will locate local management under one roof
This is both the first two-story build, and first sector office to be delivered as part of the rural ambulance program.

The sector office will provide a collaborative workspace for local management including the provision of single and shared offices, hot desks, meeting rooms, and the capacity to become a North Coast Incident Management Centre in times of disasters.

Main works on the new station is scheduled for completion in mid-2021, followed by a fit-out and operational commissioning phase prior to the commencement of operations from the new facility.

Health Infrastructure and NSW Ambulance acknowledge the support provided from the Sawtell Catholic Care Association and Coffs Harbour City Council in delivering this project; all organisations are working together to deliver this vital piece of infrastructure for the Coffs Harbour and Sawtell district.

To date, 24 upgraded, rebuilt or new regional and rural ambulance stations have been announced under the RAIR program, including completed stations at Wagga Wagga, Coolamon, Ardlethan, Harden, Molong, Griffith, Kiama, Berry, Bay & Basin, Toukley, Wauchope, Hamlyn Terrace, Bathurst Pottsville, Yass, Rutherford, Bungendore, Cowra, Grenfell, Goulburn and Birmingham Gardens.

This represents the biggest regional and rural transformation of NSW Ambulance infrastructure in the organisation’s history.
The NSW Government has invested $10 billion in health infrastructure since 2011, with $10.1 billion more over the four years from 2019-20, including more than $900 million for rural and regional areas in 2019-20.

The State Government’s investment in health in our regional communities is vital. The value of health facilities to their communities has never been more apparent than now.